Self-serving vehicle-store



J. B. MOODY.

SELF SERVING VEHICLE STORE. APPLICATION min FEB- 24. I920.

. 1,355,408. Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.,

1. B. MOODY.

SELF SERVING VEHICLE STORE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 24. I920.

Patenwd 0613. 12, 1920. 2 $IIEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES JASON B. MOODY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

SELF-SERVING- VEHICLE-STORE.

Application filed February 24, 1920. Serial No.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JASON B. MoonY, a citizen of the United States, residin at Houston, in the county of Harris and tate of Texas, have invented certain new and useful vImprovements in Self-Serving Vehicle-Stores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in self serving vehicle stores.

The purpose of the invention is to provlde within a vehicle a self serving store into which the customers may enter and through which they pursue a predetermined path pass to the far end of the vehicle and return on the opposite side; however, the base is made for passage across the vehicle if desired. One of the features resides in the provision of storm doors which when not in use may be disposed'at such an angle as to give the door keeper a view of all parts of the store which are in rear of his position and which may be readily closed in bad weather. Provision is also made for storage racks for baskets for usage of customers,.

ventilation and light. The stairway is arranged to be folded up when the vehicle is not in use and includes a turnstile. A sl1ding canopy is carried at the rear end of the vehicle and may be slid out over the stairway. When the stairway is folded up it forms the back door of the vehicle.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following speclfication and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Figure 1 isv a slde elevation of vehicle store constructed in accordance with this invention, y

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the same,

Specification of Letters Patent.

of the vehicle,

Fig. 4 is an isometrical view of the roof Fig. 5 is a detail of the turnstile, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail of the same.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a vehicle body which may be of anyapproved construction and may be mounted on a running gear 11 of a wagon or other kind of vehicle. The vehicle body has a roof 12 in which a skylight 13' is mounted and this skylightmay have pivoted sashes 14 around its sides which while admitting light may be also opened for ventilation. At the rear'end of the body a" doorway 15 1s provided. A stairway 16 has its upper end hinged to the floor or bed of the body at 17, while its lower end rests on the ground. At the top and bottom of the stairway on each side posts 18 are mounted. and each'p'air of posts are connected at their upper end by a chain 19 which forms guards at each side of the stairway to keep the i customer from stepping off. A. central post 20 is provided at the top of the stairway .and a central post 21 is provided at the bottom of the stairway and these latter postsare connected by a chain or other connection 22. A turnstile 23 is mounted on top of the post formed on each side of the'chain 22. As shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6 a ratchet turnstile carries a pawl 25 engaging with the ratchet so as to compel the customer to turn the turnstile in the proper direction thus preventing him from entering the wrong passageway.

Referring to Fig. 3 it is pointed out that the left hand passageway is the entrance and the right hand passageway is the exit, this is also shown in Fig. 2. A sliding canopy 26 of suitable construction is mounted just under the roof so as to slide out over the stairway and protect the same in bad weather. A pair of flexible connections 27 are attached to each side of the bottom of the stairwa and are carried up and over pulleys 28-1n the rear of the vehicle body as is shown-Figs. 1 and 2. Weights 29 are attached to the upper end of the connections 27 and assist in raising the stairway when the latter is swung upward and into the opening 15, the underside of the stairway forming a closure for the doorway 15. The

posts at the upper end of the stairway are Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

21 so that its arms obstruct. the passages arranged to be removed when the stairway is folded up. v

Along each side of the body and across the front end suitable shelves or compartments counter 32. Opposite the left hand end of the counter 32 a compartment 34: is provided for baskets and thelike which may be used by the customers. It willbe seen that the customers after passing the counter 32 may continue around the store or maycross the. same .between the counter and stand andquickly pass out on the right hand side of the counter.

The attendant or store keeper stands behind the counter 32 facing the doorway 15..

The longitudinal leg or portion of the counter 32 provides room for the customers to line up and place their purchases on said counter; while the transverse portion of said counter provides a space for the cash reglster and adding machine or other equipment of the store keeper. One of the features is a pair of doors 35 which are hinged at each side of the doorway 15 and when opened fold back within the side of the vehicle body and are suitably fastened. Mirrors 36 are arranged on these doors so thatwhen the latter are fastened in their open position the said mirrors will be at a certain angle that the door keeper ma readily glance into the same and view 0 entire store behind him, thus enabling him to see that the customers are properly waiting on themselves and also enab It is obvious that various equipment and attachment could be added and the invention contemplates the addition of conveniencesor nece$ities as are obvious. V The arrangement is simple and provides fora free pa$age of the customers through the store,

as well as across the store. During stormy 1. In a dispensing vehicle, the combination with a vehicle body having means arhim to observe the stockon his Shelves without leaving his position.

ranged interiorly thereof and extending longitudinally of the same for storing mer-' at one end of the body, means for'causing customers to pass on each side of said counter in entering and exiting from the store, a central stand in the body separated from the counter, and doors arrangedat the entrance end of the body and mirrors carried' by the doors and correlated with the counter so that the store keeper at the counter-may view the store in rear of his position by observing the mirrors.

3. In .a tion with a vehicle body having provision for storing merchandise therein and provided with a doorway, of a pair of doors for saiddoorway normally adapted to open within said vehicle body, mirrors mounted on said doors, said doors normally being disposed at such angles as to cause the mirrors to reflect the contents of the vehicle body for the full length thereof and a counter arranged within said vehicle body near and between said mirrors.

.4. In a dispensing vehicle, the combination with a vehicle body having provision for storing merchandise therein and provided with a doorway at its rear end, of a pair of doors for said doorway adapted to open within said vehicle body, mirrors mounted on said doors, said doors normally being disposed at such angles as to cause the mirrors to reflect the contents of the vehicle body for the full length thereof, and a store keepers counter arranged adjacent the doors and disposed in front of the doorway.

5. In a dispensing vehicle, the combination with'a vehicle body having provision for storing merchandise therein and provided with a doorway at its rear end, of a stairway hinged to the rear end of the vehicle body at the doorway and arranged to fold upward at said doorway, means for dividing said stairway into two passages, and means on the stairway for compelling traflic in op osite directions in the passages.

6. In a 'spensin'g vehicle, the combination with a vehicle body having. passages therein and interior compartments arranged upon opposite sides of the body and some of the passages, of a counter'within the body and near one end, a stairway a proaching the end of the vehicle having t e counter,

dispensing vehicle, the combinameans for dividing the stairway into two passages each having provision for traffic in one direction only, and means between the stairway and the counter for causing traflic to pass on a predetermined side of said counter.

7. In a dispensing vehicle, the combination with a vehicle body having means arranged interiorly thereof and extending longitudinally of the same for storing merchandise, said vehicle body being provided at one end with a door opening, reflectors angularly arranged within the end of the vehicle body upon opposite sides of the door opening, and a counter arranged within the vehicle body near the central longitudinal axis thereof and near the reflectors.

8. In a dispensing vehicle, the combination with a vehicle body having means extending longitudinally thereof and interiorly'of the same for storing merchandise, said vehicle body being provided at one end with a door opening, a stairway leading to the door opening, meansconnected with the stairway for dividing the same into a pair of passages, such dividing means extending into the vehicle body for a substantial distance, a counter arranged within the rear portion of the vehicle body near its central longitudinal axis and having connection with the dividing means, a turn-stile pivoted upon the intake end of the stairway and controlling both passages, and means to cause the turn-stile to turn in one direction only.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JASON B. MOODY. 

